If pastoral work were a symphony, Bishop Manuel C. Sobreviñas would be a good conductor. While a symphony is the product of a composer’s mind—he arranges an agreeable succession of tones to express a musical idea—it is the conductor who breathes life into the work. The musicians in the background also figure prominently in the rendition of the musical composition. In the late bishop’s world, God “composed,” and he conducted by guiding the parish members, his musicians.

Born on April 7, 1924, to a loving household in Dinalupihan, Bataan, Bishop Sobreviñas died on July 18 at Cardinal Santos Medical Center. He led a life of principles akin to melodic beats, while taking care of his flock. He moved, cognizant that parish work included the “grouping of diverse parts of a working art so as to achieve a unified whole.” This was how Bishop Sobreviñas, my uncle, supervised the many parishes to which he was assigned.

If unwound from imaginary multiformat video cassette tapes that hold them, stories about his work ethic (his “music”) would stretch along the paths that snake through 96 years of his life. One is his marble-playing days with cousin Siboy in Dinalupihan. The boy, nicknamed “Maning” already liked music. He played the violin and performed with the school choir. Perhaps it was the same musical inclination, coupled with a pleasant voice that helped him sing well the Gregorian chants while saying Mass years later. This made the celebration more spiritually touching, as a former parishioner put it.

‘Tio Maning’

We visited my Lolo Daniel (the bishop’s father) that summer of 1958 in Dinalupihan. Tio Maning was also there. My brother Francis, cousin Chickie and I were seated on a wooden bench close to the big door leading to the backyard. Each one was devouring an ear of boiled corn brought in from a big cauldron in the kulob—the big backyard, where tall mango, santol and coconut trees resided. Tio Maning emerged from the kitchen, where he was with his siblings, and quietly observed us. Then he went: ”Ihip kayo nang ihip eh wala naman yata akong naririnig na musika mula sa silindro ninyo!” His comment provoked laughter. Close to his family, Tio Maning also always encouraged my sisters Aida and Luz Marie to keep on playing the piano and to always attend their music lessons. He stressed the importance of practice. Playful with his nephews and nieces, the young priest was already developing his brand of human relations and work ethic. Although he valued politeness and caring, he was persuasive.

Genuine encouragement

Another recollection involved attending a mini program hosted by the Our Lady of Aranzazú parish in San Mateo, Rizal, in the late 1960s. An 8-year-old girl sang her version of Cinderella’s “Ikaw ang True Love Ko.” The girl failed to hit some notes and forgot a line, so that she was on the verge of tears. But she completed the song and received Padre Maning’s applause and genuine encouragement. Then the smiling clergyman took the time to talk about the Kingdom of God, “within each one of the students in attendance.” He explained the worth of a prayer, especially as a medium that will take us to God. The pastor always made himself helpful and available to parishioners as a rule.

Let’s spotlight the time in the early ‘70s when Tio Maning was preparing for the return trip to San Mateo, following a conference held in one of his former parishes. It was getting late, so a friend questioned the wisdom of traveling at night. That was the least of his worries, the then monsignor replied nonchalantly, “If ever we get held up, the bad guys will let me go because I’m wearing my soutane. I think they’d respect me.” “They would be the ones in danger,” he said, casting a naughty look at the three seminarians who were riding with him. They had just folded and put away their soutanes! In both instances, the good priest fused fun and work together, so that the effort would be something worthy of pursuing.My memory gets stirred up some more. I had just become a family man in 1983 and was living in Aguascalientes, Mexico, my wife’s country. On his way home after a Vatican Ad Limina visit with the late Pope John Paul II, Bishop Maning came to see us. Ever aware of his priestly duties, the first thing he did was to greet the local bishop, Salvador Quezada Limon of Aguascalientes, to request that he be allowed to say Mass. At Nuestra Señora del Carmen Cathedral the following day, my uncle got the surprise of his life when without consulting him, his Mexican counterpart told the faithful during Mass that the Filipino bishop had some words for them. Displaying “grace under pressure,” Tio Maning mounted the podium and talked about the readings of the day and “su audencia con el Papa en Roma” (my audience with the Pope in Rome)—in very good Spanish. The faithful greeted him after the service, and thanked him for visiting their church. Talking about the Mass later at supper time, Tio Maning said something amusing. “Aangkas na lang sana ako sa Obispo sa pagmisa, eh kung bakit ba ako binigyan pa ng ekstrang trabaho.” He never was the sage on the stage. His occasional funny commentary, but indeed reflective of what he continually counseled: Always be ready for the unexpected.

Comes now another entry from the recesses of my mind. Living in the US Midwest in the late ‘80s, I had another heart-warming experience with Tio Maning. My wife fell very ill and I found myself writing home, asking relatives for their prayers. Always the kind and caring uncle that he was, Tio Maning wrote me a beautiful letter, one that comforted me. In it, he alluded to the image of a piano keyboard, neatly arranged and made out of white and black keys. He pointed out that a pilgrim’s journey in this world included happy and sad intervals, represented by the two types of keys. “Liken them to trials, to which God subjects us,” he noted. “Part of God’s plan, one must be patient, brave and ready to accept what the Creator dishes out to him.” “Our life plays out that way,” he explained.

I wager that not a few of his parishioners benefited from his simple advice, he shared in his simple way.

The sermon delivered recently by Bishop Rey Evangelista during the Requiem Mass for Tio Maning in Cavite and that of Bishop Ruperto Santos in Dinalupihan echoed our beloved Bishop Manuel Sobreviñas’ guiding principles while serving the Lord and His people.

“Lead a high spiritual life

Be helpful

Be patient

Try to be cheerful, always

Be humble

Pay attention to the small things

Refrain from complaining a lot”

He lived by all these during his 69 years of priestly work, his symphony. A fervent follower of the Divine Composer, he was the humble conductor, the guide on the side. —CONTRIBUTED INQ